Wildlife

SpartaBard said:
What exactly is the problem? I live in the middle of Bear-land and have no issue with the bear population. I put my garbage out in the morning and don't feed the birds. If others did that it should take care of 99% + of the problems.
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The problem is controlling the bear population. Among the reasons to control the population are crop and livestock damage. Human conflict has been increasing over the years as the bear population grows as well.

You have probably read the same reports that I have. If anyone wants links, here they are:
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/bear/mgtoptionseval_nebbtc.pdf
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/bear/policy_lit/cbbmp7-10.pdf
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/bearfacts_agricultural.htm

I am not looking for people to take sides on the bear hunt issue, as much as I would rather people read up on NJ bear and what the issues are. Without some type of human intervention to reduce the numbers, the bear population will continue to grow.
 
I read somewhere in FB that East Hampton just approved legislation to capture and neuter female bears. I heard that it will cost a small fortune.
 
I've spoken with Kelcey Burgess before, ran into him once in the woods, he's the head bear biologist for the state (awesome dude). In addition to the bear biology lesson, he said that for the population in NJ to remain healthy, it must be reduced by 23-25% per year. We don't come anywhere near that with the bear hunt.

I see bear on almost every ride now at Wayway, and most of the time when I go fishing near where the dude was killed. Most of the time they run away or mind their own business. On 2 occassions over the last 5 years they got a little too close for comfort, and I had to persuade them to back off. One of those incidents in Wayway involved 2 bears getting a little too curious. Most people don't have a problem with bears, until the minute that they do.

I know that they look cute and cudley, but they are a natural wildlife resource like any other, and should be managed to keep the population healthy. We have a pretty long coyote hunting season also, but no one makes any noise about that because I guess they're not as cute as bears.
 
soundz said:
I read somewhere in FB that East Hampton just approved legislation to capture and neuter female bears. I heard that it will cost a small fortune.
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make that deer not bear .. not too many bear in long islands
 
soundz said:
make that deer not bear .. not too many bear in long islands
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Birth control for deer is a waste of time/money. Sourlands conservancy researched it thoroughly this year and concluded the only way to control deer is by more hunting.

Monkey Soup said:
I've spoken with Kelcey Burgess before, ran into him once in the woods, he's the head bear biologist for the state (awesome dude). In addition to the bear biology lesson, he said that for the population in NJ to remain healthy, it must be reduced by 23-25% per year. We don't come anywhere near that with the bear hunt.
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When my son and I took our nj hunting license course a few years ago they were really pushing bear hunting. Apparently not nearly enough takers
 
rick81721 said:
Birth control for deer is a waste of time/money. Sourlands conservancy researched it thoroughly this year and concluded the only way to control deer is by more hunting.
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Truth:

http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/infectious_diseases/lyme/Managing_Urban_Deer.pdf

"The study demonstrated that, even with good access to a relatively small and isolated free-ranging deer population (about 30 females), an adequate number of female deer could not be successfully treated to limit population growth. It is believed that 70-90% of females need to be treated to effectively limit population growth.(21, 43, 47, 49) Aside from the difficulties of treating enough deer, the estimated cost was over $1,000 per deer treated.(49)"

East Hampton people have money to burn.
 
Coyote Attack

I was riding on the Black River Wildlife Management Area Trail near Chester on Saturday at about 3 when I was attacked by a coyote about 1.25 miles from Pleasant Hill Road. I thought it was a dog until right after. I kept the bike between it and myself and hit it with a stick until the stick broke. There were two others attacked, one before me, one after, I was the only one with a tiny scratch- the others didn’t get bit or scratched. The first guy was a mountain biker that the police later told me beat it down 3 times before it left him. Fish & Wildlife couldn’t find it as of 7, but will try again on Sunday. Had to get rabies shots, 3 more rounds to go. Will order pepper or bear spray for the bike. I know it was a fluke that will never happen to me again, but better safe than sorry.
 
Daveo2 that's just crazy, black bears killing and coyote attacking is just bizarre... Glad your ok...
 
the woods freak me out, i hate when youre zipping along a trail, turn a corner and there is a deer just staring you in the face. scares the crap out of me everytime. i hope i never run into a bear/coyote etc. .
 
wow that's crazy! sorry you have to go through the rabies rounds. sounds like it wasn't right. did it look skinny or did you not have time to notice while you were fighting for your life?
 
Was it rabies? If not it is likely canine distemper which is a vicious plague that is making wild animals (including wildcats) more and more fearless.
 
The funny thing is- I thought is was a dog until after the attack.
I saw a jogger 100's of feet away from me coming in my direction.
There was a "dog" ahead of him trodding right towards me.
When it was about 150' or so from me, I stopped as we all know dogs like to chase bikes.
I think I even put my hand out for it. It went right for my front tire that I just put on that morning- the f'er- that's $52! I thought it was a dog just playing too aggressive, so I yelled at it- no effect. More yelling, then I grabbed a stick and swung it at him- just a threat- no contact. I kept my bike between us. When that didn't work I hit it with the stick but didn't want to hurt it. Then I hit it hard- when that didn't work I knew it was serious and I hit it hard till the stick broke. Anyway- not sure why it left, but at some point it continued in the same direction as before. I mounted my bike, looked back, and it ran after me again from about 100' away- the f'er, but this time it was brief.
The jogger finally reached me- perhaps he just stayed clear. I said "is that you dog". That's not a dog- that's a coyote.
Sorry for the length here.
Anyway, got a call from the police and health department- it tested positive for rabies.

It had a beautiful coat- no sighs of it being sick. Looked like a dog.
Rabies shots aren't as bad as expected- if I could just stop getting up to howl at the moon...:drooling:
 
Dave02 said:
... oh, and most importantly, the tire is ok.
I guess the Maxxis Ardent EXO is coyote resistant.
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Oh thank goodness... I feel much better now - mostly because that is the same front tire I just put on my bike and I now know it's Coyote proof.

Another perk of this forum - finding out if your bike parts are wild animal proof!
 
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